Thankful time of year

It's that time of year - The Holiday Season!!  And there is a holiday that falls between one of the darkest holidays and one of the brightest.  It's the holiday that involves turkey not candy or presents.  It's the holiday that is quickly disappearing.  Stores go from rows and rows of candy to rows and rows of Christmas trees and lights.  But I LOVE Thanksgiving also!  Even though my most favorite by a large margin is Christmas, I want to take the time this month to remember all that I have to be thankful for.  So this post is going to be an update and also a few reasons why I am so thankful this year.  

In my last post I explained about the unexpected journey we would be taking.  My daughter would be having another hip surgery to correct her hip dysplasia.  I would be dealing with a 5 year old in a cast while also going through my third trimester.  That was a hard time - I won't lie.  I was also dealing with severe back and hip pain.  I'm sure lifting a 5 year old in a body cast didn't help.  But my wonderful midwife referred me to a physical therapist, and she did wonders for my back/hip!  The last few weeks of my pregnancy were pain-free!!  Something I haven't experienced in my last several pregnancies.  I did learn that all of my pregnancies have caused my hips to be very unstable. 

Madison's surgery was at the end of June.  She asked for a purple cast with pink stripes.  This is what she got:

 I think they did great!  It's exactly what she wanted.  That smile on her face - it was almost always there!  I kid you not!  She was the happiest kid in a spica cast I've ever seen.  While she was in a cast we celebrated 4th of July.

 and we had VBS at church:

 That's me and my sweetie!  She was such a trooper!  She never complained about what she couldn't do.  She just made do, and was happy all the time.

And then the big day came - one month after her surgery, she came out of the cast:

We were so happy!!  She still needed the wheelchair b/c she couldn't walk on her leg for a while, and she would get tired when she did start walking.  But the cast was off!!  Yay!!!  

Then another big day came for our family.  The day we welcomed baby #6 into our family.  Mikenzie Grace was born in early August.  

Life as a family of 8 seems very similar to 7.  We are truly blessed!  And we are so happy with our large family.  Mikenzie is very happy baby.  In fact she's probably the best baby I've had.  She is a wonderful addition to our family.  

And then a few weeks later, we said goodbye to the wheelchair!  

This was truly a crazy summer.  I went through more than I thought I could, but I came out on the other side!  I took it one day at a time, leaned on my family and friends, and most importantly - stayed in constant contact with God!  

I have so much to be thankful for!  So this month I am going to focus on being Thankful!  

But after that - BRING ON CHRISTMAS!!!!!  

Yes, they are all mine...

I just have to laugh when we all go out as a family. There are 7 of us, and we almost always get looks and comments.  The most frequent ones are  ...

"Are they all yours?"
And
"You must have your hands full." 

Sometimes these comments are obviously from people that enjoy big families, but there are times when they are accompanied with looks of annoyance. As if my family size is somehow effecting them in a negative way. 

Today wasn't much different. I took all 5 kids with me to a doctor's appointment for the youngest. I normally don't but this was the only time they could fit us in, and it was last minute.  The nurse comes in and makes some comment about it being like a zoo. That was a new one. But I didn't respond just waited for her to start asking the normal questions.  Fast forward about an hour.... My troop and I are headed into a favorite store. A man who is in the medical field (based on his clothes and the fact that we are across from a hospital) holds the door open for us all and says "only 5?" with a smile on his face. "For now." I reply. He then tells me he has 4 and makes small talk with my oldest about being the oldest. It made me smile. Someone who enjoys large families and has one of his own.

Later we all went to another store where the clerk makes the standard  comments "are they all yours? Boy you sure have your hands full." Then she said something that made me think - "I bet you're glad it's almost time for school to start." ..... I thought for just a moment and then honestly said "actually, I miss them when they are in school. " She got the most shocked look on her face. I think she was speechless.  But I meant it. I do miss my kids when they are away from me. Yes, my life is chaos. Yes, my life is crazy. Yes, I do enough laundry for a small army. But I LOVE IT!!!!!  I can't imagine any other life.  I wouldn't trade my family for anything. 

Although there was a moment in the store when 1 was crying, 2 were running crazy.....no. nevermind.  Still wouldn't trade 'em. ;)  

I'm glad I got that reminder today.

Blessings to you!